San Diego trolley link to airport property eyed

San Diego’s “trolley,” the first modern U.S. light rail system that debuted in 1981, is now primed to reach the property line of San Diego International Airport, also known as Lindbergh Field, the chair of San Diego County Regional Airport Authority said Wednesday.

Authority Chairman Robert Gleason, in a presentation to a San Diego City Council committee, said a c transit center on the north side of the airport is being planned by the San Diego Association of Governments.

"As currently envisioned, that project would consolidate the light rail, rail, and bus operations to that station," Gleason told the committee members, according to local media.

But the LRT plans appear not to reach the airport terminal area directly. "Those passengers wishing to access the airport would then cross a pedestrian bridge across Pacific Highway (to) airport property, and we would shuttle those passengers (to the terminals)," Gleason clarified.

At present, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) offers LRT riders airport access via the Blue or Orange lines to America Plaza stop, or the Green Line to Santa Fe Depot, with a transfer required to MTS bus route 992.